Yamunanagar : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today expressed concern over the manner in which the forest area of Mangarbani in Aravalis has been "damaged".

He said that because of the dedication of the local residents, he made an aerial survey to see the area and banned the sale and purchase of land in Mangarbani and within a radius of 500 metres of this area.

Khattar said that the forest area of Mangarbani in Aravalis has been damaged, according to an official release here.

The Chief Minister, who was addressing 66th State Level 'Van Mahotsava' at Chhachhrauli in district Yamunanagar, said that the festival would continue for three months.

He urged the people that each family should plant at least one sapling in a year.

The Chief Minister, also urged license holders of plywood industry and stone crushers that each of them should undertake plantation over an area of one acre so as to increase the forest cover, the release said.

He said that those who rank among the first ten in this drive would get incentive. The one, who would stand first, would get a reward of Rs 1 lakh.

Khattar said that the state government was formulating a plan to promote eco-tourism in Shivalik area and develop it as a herbal park.

Species of medicinal plants would be planted in Aravalis area under the guidance of Balkrishna, an associate of Yoga Guru Ramdev, who is Haryana's brand ambassador for promotion of Yoga and Ayurveda.

He said that out of the total area of 44 lakh hectares of the state, 1.68 lakh hectares are under forest, which is only 3.9 per cent of the total area.

The Chief Minister said that a target has been set to increase the forest cover by six per cent and make it 20 per cent in future.

Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu said that the Forest Department would plant three crore saplings and ensure their protection and growth.